THE
BOXHOLDER
JOURNAL of the POCONO PLATEAU ©2020, All Rights Reserved
VOLUME 24, NUMBER 29
May 21–June 3, 2020
Presorted Standard
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Tunkhannock Township extends property tax discount date by Jeanine Hofbauer As Act 15 of 2020, signed into law April 20, increased empowerment of local government authorities during COVID 19, Tunkhannock Township supervisors took
measures to extend taxing leniency for residents, announcing new deadlines at their May 13 meeting. Resolution 2020291 was passed unanimously allowing municipal real estate property tax discount rates to go from April 30 to no later
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than August 31, 2020. Late penalty fees are waived if paid in full by December 31, 2020. The resolution applies to municipal taxes, not school property taxes. Inquiries were directed to the local tax collector regarding payments sent in prior to this notification. Contact information is provided on tax billing statements. Supervisors’ chair Fran De Piano stated, “We will continue to do anything we can to help our residents out.” Pocono Organics Land Development plans received conditional approval after noting the 380-acre USDA certified organic farm, poised to be the largest in North America, reserved the right not to comply with Landscape Ordinance parameters as variances in the future may be permitted. Located across from Pocono Raceway at 1015 Long Pond Road, the regenerative organic farm is now accepting orders online at PoconoOrganics.com for barnside pickup. Sharing future potential plans, Pocono Organics social media marketing manager Sash Hickey mentioned ideas for a mobile farmer’s market, events at the farm, and home gardening and cooking classes. Approval was granted for proposed Subdivision and Land Development plans for Dollar General on Route 115. See TUNKHANNOCK TWP, page 16
Pocono Raceway to host 2020 PMSD graduation by Jeanine Hofbauer It’s official — a May 6 unanimous vote by the school board set the wheels in motion introducing Pocono Mountain School District’s Class of 2020 to a unique solution for graduation ceremonies at Pocono Raceway. Faced with uncertainty about if and how students would be able to hold a traditional ceremony due to COVID-19 social distancing, the district announced East High School will have a celebration June 19, and West High School on June 20.
West Principal Mark Wade noted that while announcements of neighboring district North Pocono’s plans flooded media channels, PMSD had already been in talks with Raceway officials and Student Government advisors. East High School Principal Michael Jones added that “Giving it [Class of 2020 graduation] the due recognition that it deserves,” had been a top priority. Raceway senior director of marketing and analytics Ricky Durst explained how the See PMSD, page 2